Send Me No Flowers

A while back I had a Doris Day, Rock Hudson movie marathon weekend. I watched the Romance Collection which included Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back and Send Me No Flowers. They were all great and each one contained a great movie house or two.

In August I took you on a tour of the swanky New York apartments of Doris and Rock (Jerry and Carol) in the movie, Lover Come Back. You’ll find that tour here: Lover Come Back: Tour the New York Apartments in this Doris Day and Rock Hudson Classic . Out of all three movies, the movie that had the best “movie-house” in it to me was, Send Me No Flowers. Though the decorating is a bit old fashioned, I loved so many features of the home itself.

Send me no flowers debuted in 1964 so this is a nostalgic trip back. I think you’ll be surprised how many things haven’t changed or have just been re-tweeked for today’s homes.

Ready to go for a ride in my time machine?

Here’s our first glimpse of the house as the milk, eggs and yogurt are being delivered. Are you old enough to remember having milk delivered? You’re not going to believe this but there was a guy who delivered milk in my town just a few years back. He may still be doing it. You just kept a cooler outside and he tucked it into the cooler when he left it during the wee hours of the morning while everyone was still asleep. I had it delivered for a while, just for the romantic notion of the idea. It was like magic opening that cooler and finding a gallon of milk inside.

The house looks pretty modest from the outside. It has a cedar shake roof, is cedar-shingled on the lower half and appears to have siding across the top half. Love the cute window boxes on the upstairs windows. You can’t see it for the tree, but there’s one more window over on the left. Bay windows were really big during this time and you’ll see several in the home. I’d buy this house today but I think I’d beefed up those front columns on the porch. They don’t do the entrance justice, do they?

I won’t go through the whole story of the movie since my main focus is checking out the house, but periodically I’ll explain a bit here and there so the scenes make sense. The movie starts off with a very funny scene as Judy (played by Doris Day) discovers she has locked herself out of her home with her house coat caught in the locked door. She bangs frantically on the door but hubby, George, is in the shower and doesn’t answer. She ends up having to take off the house coat so she can hightail to the rear of the home, hoping to get in through the back door. You can just imagine where the eggs, yogurt, etc… end up with all this going on. I love homes that have the wider sidelights like this.

As Judy frantically runs down the side toward the back of her home, we catch a glimpse of one of several Dutch doors you’ll see in the home. Note the wonderful the cathedral arched-style window in the top of this double door. Love that!

This picture always cracks me up because it shows how fast Judy is running, hoping to not be seen by the neighbors. I think the house we see on the other side of the hedge belongs to their neighbor, Arnold, who is played by Tony Randall.

The back door leading out onto the patio is also a Dutch door with another wonderful cathedral arched window. We see another bay window…love all the windows in this house!

Here’s how this area of the home looks from the inside. Note the fabulous coffered ceiling. This really is a great house! Just love some of the details we’ll see as we tour it.

Let’s start our tour inside with the front entrance. Here’s the view of the front door and entry. Love all the paneled doors and paneled walls. Just makes a home feel so solid and so well-built.

There’s a sweeping stairway with a carpeted runner up the center. Okay, I have to mention this. See the lemon or apple tree off to the left. Recognize it? Where have we seen it before?

Remember this scene in the dining room of Carol’s New York apartment in our, Lover Come Back, movie house tour? There it is! Guess there was a little recycling going on with the movie props.

One final look at the staircase in the entry in, Send Me No Flowers. Umm, there’s a giant wrist-watch clock on the wall.

There are a few scenes in the living room. This period was right before the 70’s and already we see a lot of brown, beige and neutrals. The mantel and surround almost appear to have a faux finish. Maybe they were trying to make it look like stained wood.

The lamp shades are back in style now. See the seating area back there behind the sofa? Love these big bays…they feel like mini sunrooms throughout the house.

Here’s a view looking across the seating area into another area of the home. I think the door we see may be the first Dutch door we saw when Judy was making her mad dash around to the back in her nightie. You get a glimpse of the bar, strategically located for parties right off the living room.

Here’s a view of the other side of the living room. In this movie, George (Rock Hudson) is a big time hypochondriac who takes a gazillion vitamins/pills each day. He’s eternally convinced he is sick or going to become sick. The plot throughout much of the movie is centered around George’s belief that he has just six months to live. He gets that crazy idea after overhearing a telephone conversation between his doctor and another doctor when they are talking about another patient.

George is totally wrong in his belief that he only has six months to live, but it makes for some interesting moments in the movie. In the picture below, his doctor has stopped by their home to assure Judy that George is totally healthy. She is fuming mad because he’s had her worried sick. Let’s go check out the kitchen, next.

The kitchen really feels pretty modern with its white cabinetry and stainless steel counter tops. Update: Colleen emailed to say the counters may be yellow with just a metal edge. After looking a bit closer, I think she may be right. What do you think?

Even the appliances appear to be stainless…or maybe that was aluminum back then. Fifty years later, stainless is in style!

Another view of the other end of the kitchen leading out to the carport. Remember the spice racks for the wall?

Well, except for the fridge. Does that color look familiar?

It’s very similar to the one we saw in our tour of Carol’s apartment in the movie, Lover Come Back filmed three years before in 1961.

A glimpse into the built-in pantry. Love the depth of the shelves…perfect for canned goods and small items.

The breakfast area is one of my fave areas of this home.

We get a view of another wonderful bay window with a built-in window seat. Isn’t it interesting that after all this time, window seats are still as popular as ever. I still love them! I also love all the paneled doors and moldings we see throughout.

It appears we have a painted brick fireplace in the breakfast room…wish we could see more of it. So folks were painting brick fireplaces even back in the 60’s! Interesting, huh? We have a back stairway, too. Love back stairways!

This was the view as George started up the back stairway. Have no idea where the balcony is that we see beyond. Maybe it’s part of the entry? I never could totally figure out the layout of this movie house.

I think this is the dining room. It’s not the breakfast area because the table is different. There’s the bar area again with Arnold, the neighbor, helping himself to a drink. Arnold begins drinking heavily in the movie when he learns his friend, George, only has six months to live, which of course, is totally false.

I think the stairs we see in the background are those in the entry. The interior was pretty open for the 60’s, wasn’t it? Let’s go upstairs and check out George and Judy’s master bedroom. What color do you think the color scheme will be? Hint: Remember the main color in the kitchen?

Yep, it’s yellow…kind of a gold-yellow. There’s wallpaper on one wall. Remember when wallpapering one accent wall in a room was big? Actually, come to think of it, I still see that done today, only the wallpaper is usually a geometric design. The headboard and lamps could be dropped in a home today, couldn’t they. Upholstered headboards are really popular now. Notice how the comforter is accented with a fabric that’s the same as the pattern of the wallpaper.

Another view of the room. You have to watch the movie to understand that look on Judy’s face. She is totally put-out with George now that she knows he isn’t really dying. She thinks he’s actually having an affair and has concocted that story to get sympathy and hide the affair. That look on her face is a “I’m going to get you for this” look! What do you think about those window shades? Pretty fancy how they coordinate with the wallpaper.

There’s that look again! Ha! I had to include this picture because of the clock behind her. That so reminds me of all the sunburst mirrors alllll over Blogland and Pinterest today. Replace the clock with a mirror and it fits right into today’s popular decor styles. We just recycle the old styles into new things, dont’ we?

Another view of the room…velvet upholstered chairs are pretty popular today, too. I guess some styles are just classic and never really leave us.

Let check out the master bath and dressing area. Right off I see a beautiful chandelier in Judy’s dressing area.

More views of the dressing areas with the old traditional shutters (not plantation shutters) on the windows.

This bathroom would almost work for today…very neutral.

Okay, I thought this was pretty cool. It looks like just a bank of mirrors, right?

The mirrored doors slide open to reveal a huge medicine cabinet. Love all that storage! Can you tell George is a bit of a hypochondriac?

So, what did you think of this movie house? A few updates and I could move right in. I love the back yard, patio area and all the windows, especially those bays!

Bonus Info: I was thinking Judy and George’s house reminded me a lot of the homes you see in the movie The Burbs, which was filmed on what Universal Studios called “Colonial Street.” Here’s a shot of the neighborhood from Send Me No Flowers.

An astute reader noticed how much the front looked like the Cleaver home in Leave it to Beaver. I think it is the same house, but with a porch added across the front.

Here’s the Leave it to Beaver house…photo below from here. Looks the same, doesn’t it…just without the porch.

Comments

I LOVE this house, Susan! Thanks so much for posting all these wonderful images. Love all those windows and all that cabinetry throughout the house. I think we had a Harvest Gold appliance once, year ago…..do you remember the Avocado Green appliances, too?? And I do remember milkmen. There are quite a few dairies in New England that still deliver milk and eggs each day. I see their truck every morning in the neighborhood. We also had a Bakery truck that came around when I was a child and delivered bread, muffins, and pastry. (Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth…..)

Well, that almost makes me want to move to New England…just wish it didn’t get so cold up there in the winter. Guess that’s good for the milk delivery, though. Yes, I do remember those gold and green appliance…like the softer yellow in Send Me No Flowers better.

I feel like I hit the lottery today! I have been trying to find out about it for years because it is my dream home! I have even attempted at drawing out the floorplan as I thought best! Thank you so much!

This is one of my favorite movies – I saw it for the first time years ago on A&E (I think), and promptly ordered the movie for my collection. The story is great, but like you, I fell in love with the house – thanks for this post! Guess I will have to watch the movie tonight!

I love the old Doris Day/Rock Hudson movies. I always thought of yellow as her color. I never particularly cared for all the sunburst clocks, but I was thrilled when I finally learned what I think must be their source. When we were in
Rome, we spent some time in the Roman Forum….and there, high on the wall were large gold sunburst appliqués. That has to be where the idea originated. Thanks for the tour. I could still live happily in a house like that today. Cherry Kay

Oh how fun this was! I agree. Those windows, doors, woodwork, etc. are wonderful! When my parents built our house (1949), part of the kitchen countertops were stainless (around the sink area). Six years ago, when we remodeled and moved into that same house, I kept those cabinets and put them in the laundry room (with the stainless tops). You are right. A lot of what they showed could be enjoyed in a home today (not the harvest gold fridge though!). Your description of the windows is perfect – mini sunrooms all over the house. I love that. I enjoyed this post so much. laurie

I love touring these homes!!!…I loved all the Doris Day/Rock Hudson movies….but you know, I was an “infant” when I saw them :)….It is so interesting to see these homes and see the design that has stood the test of time….Thanks for the tour Susan!!

I remember this movie quite well. Loved all their movies together.
I lived in a house in Anderson, SC in the early 60’s that had painted brick around each of the fireplaces except for one in the back family room open to the kitchen…that one was natural brick. All the others were painted (we had fireplaces in 3 upstairs bedrooms and downstairs in the living, dining, den and family room)

I remember watching this movie with my parents back than, when I was just a kid..I think one Easter Sunday in Radio City Music Hall in NY. Since than I’ve seen it on the classic Hollywood channel, several years back. I love the house, Doris and Rock and those nostalgic days of the 60’s. Thank you dear Susan. I haven’t been visiting you or anyone as I had a hard couple of weeks with my daughter who contracted hepatitis A and while waiting my flight with her, to come back home, in the airport ,someone stoled my computed, I just got a new one and I’m so busy to even make a tablescape or a MM, even though I have soemething new I’ve done lately.
Lots of hugs to you,
FABBY

Wow, Fabby…that’s a lot to deal with. I’m so sorry your daughter has been sick. Hope she is doing better now…scary when our kids are sick. That’s awful about your computer. What goes around comes around…so whoever stole it will get their just deserts one day. Big Hugs sent your way, sweet friend! Give you beautiful daughter a hug and my well wishes, too.

I loved this post-every picture had me saying, “We had that! Grandma’s house had that! Aunt So & So’s house had those!” I’ve never seen the movie, but it was a walk down memory lane-Doris even looked a little like my mother!

Thank you for the guided tour down memory land and the great movie house. You can never figure out how the layout works because many of the rooms were individual sets and a movie house doesn’t have to flow like a real house, it just has to look great one room/ at a time. I loved the picture of the bedroom with all the matchy matchy wallpaper, bed sread and window shades. I remember in the late 60’s, when I was 11, my Mom and I totally redecorated my bedroom. My Mom was finacially creative given she had a household of 8 to care for. She got the same look as the window coverings in Doris’ bedroom by taking a while vinyl roller shades (thank God those are gone) and using the left-over wallpaper, glued it to the shade. At the bottom she added tiny pom pom fringe. I thought I had a bedroom any princess would evny. She also made a duvet from the sheets we used. We were thrilled how everything coordinated. This is probably why, as an adult, I never buy matching sets of furniture and keep my window treatment to a minimum. Traumatized by the over-coordinated 60’s & 70’s. I do love a beautiful traditional house to this day and , if this was a real home, I would love to move in- if I had the chance.

Ellen, thanks for sharing that story…I loved it! You are so funny about being “traumatized by the over-coordinated 60’s & 70’s.” I know what you mean. 🙂 One part of me does love that look but the bad thing about it is you tend to tire of it so quickly. Your Mom was way ahead of her time. She would have made a great a Blogger today sharing her crafty ways and DIY cost-cutting tricks.

Susan,
The way I remember delivered milk is, I walked across the street to our country store and brought a gallon back home. I haven’t visited in a while, so I just wanted to say hi. We still enjoy reading your blog.

That was fun! They always made her so glamorous even when she woke up from sleeping she was perfect! I forgot about this movie! It is a nice home- even if its not totally real! I grew up in this era and yes we had milk delivered too!
I still fight matching things- I think it comes from being taught to be tidy and orderly! That’s funny about the lemon tree being in another Doris Day movie. I wonder if yellow was a chosen color for her to make her look her best- like a signature color? Do you remember the movie with her and Rock again where he’s a doctor and she gets involved selling soap in a tv commercial? They end up with soap in the swimming pool that grows bubbles two stories high! Anyway those are fun movies she made! You have a good eye on the details ! Fun stuff!

I never saw that one. I want to see some of her others since I’ve enjoyed these so much. That one sounds very funny! She really do make her look glamorous. Of course, it helps when there’s a staff of folks picking out your clothes and doing your hair and makeup!

“Leave it to Beaver ” ended in 1963, and this movie was released in 1964, so they used the house right away! How fun! That tree to the left is the exact same tree! Adding the porch must’ve been quite important to the scene because it appears to have been removed later in other productions, including Desperate housewives! This house is set on the back lot of Universal studios. What a beautiful house. Here’s a neat website with info on the backlot street where this house was located and how many different movies were filmed there. http://www.retroweb.com/universal_leave_it_to_beaver.html

Thanks, Sandy for that good info! Sorry it took a while for your comment to show up. I found it in the spam file this morning. I think WordPress throws comments with links into the spam file, but I try to check it daily to retrieve any that end up there in error. I love that site you mentioned…lots of fun info and brings back soooo many memories.

Love the house Susan and all the memories that go with it. I was not sorry to see Harvest gold disappear though. That was my first impression when we emigrated to Canada, everthing was Avocado and Gold!!! We only ever had white in England.
We not only had milkmen deliver but also Breadmen and Coalmen and wait for it…they had horses!!! 🙂

Hi Susan! Loved this just like your last Doris/Rock movie post, although this is my least favorite of their movies together! I just couldn’t see handsome Rock as such a wimp! 🙂
I also love Doris’ movie that Liz @ Infuse with Liz said….but it’s not with Rock Hudson, it’s James Garner at his most-handsomest-bestest!! Sooooo handsome!! Adorable movie! Please do a tour of the house in that one, too!

He really was a wimp in this movie…you are so right. Didn’t fit the old Rock image at all. I think the movie y’all mentioned is The Thrill of It All. Apparently, it was a huge hit…need to get that one and watch it. So it’s got a great house, too?

I LOVE Doris Day movies, I wish I could watch one right now! Your house tour was so much fun, I will definitely watch old movies with a new eye, looking for all those fabulous details you pointed out. Thank you for the trip down Memory Lane!

Another fab film, i think I have most of Doris Day/Rock Hudoson dvd’s . I remember the scene when,( is it George ?)(hudson) goes to see the funeral director and buys a plot! The Funeral director tells George that in 1980 they may make a flyover/motorway/freeway so may need to move everyone and George said ‘he would just do what ever else does ‘ Lol so so funny. And I supposes back in the 60’s 1980 seemed a long way !

Ps. Forgot to mention yes I remember milk being delivered as a child, in fact up until about 10 years ago we had milk delivered to the doorstep. That last b&w picture of the bungalow reminded me of a few years ago i sent an email with a photograph of my late great aunt’s house in i think it was CA, the photo was in my late mums possession so i thought i would email, i cannot remember who i sent it to, a total strtanger anyway, But she got back to me with an up to date photo of the very same house. I have another photograph of another house she lived in in the 50/60 but i havent had luck finding an upto date pic of it, even though i emailed a newspaper in that area. But one day, one day.

Judi, I was just thinking the same thing this morning as I was looking at some of the houses on “Colonial Street” at Universal Studios. The houses remind me so much of those from my home town. No wonder the shows felt so real when I was small and watching them.

I’m so glad you did this. This is one of my favorite movie houses. I’ve been known to stop the movie, rewind, and pause to get a better look at the house. I love all the bay windows and different sitting areas. Thanks so much for doing these.

Thanks, Diane! I loved that movie house, too. I’m so with you on the rewinding…I do the same thing! So glad you enjoyed this…makes my day to hear it. 🙂 I’ll be doing a few more of the Doris Day movie houses sometime soon.

Around 1994 or so we made a trip to Southern California for my husband’s job. Taking a couple extra days for fun, we visited Paramount Studios for their 3 hour walking tour. We were able to walk the quaint little streets which were the background for many movies and television shows over the years. We saw the bench which was part of the beginning of every Mission Impossible TV show, and many other interesting spots. The movie, “Patriot Games” had just finished filming, and we were able to walk through a mock-up of the kitchen. Glancing at the floor, there was a piece of MASKING TAPE which simply said “Harrison”. The tour guide was willing to take us into their props building, providing it was open for tours that day. Evidently not all tour groups were able to see this interesting place. Once inside, we were taken into yet another large room and were told we could look and touch, but if anything ever disappeared, this special place would be taken off the tours forever. So we wandered around a space that was much like an antiques store. Small aisles, stuff everywhere, just sitting out on tables or counters, waiting for those needing stuff to decorate a set with to come choose. I remember most, a wall of wooden drawers with labels on each one made of …..get this, MASKING TAPE!! Real high quality labeling in this unique, fascinating place! One was labeled “Silver Spoons” and upon opening, I found about a dozen mis-matched silver spoons. Another was marked “Passports” and inside this one were several passports. The most incredible part of this venture was learning that at that time, the man who ran this room of set props had everything “cataloged” in his head. He could find you anything you wanted, and nothing was catagorized on computer. This was one of the most interesting and enjoyable tours we ever had. I hope they are still doing them!

That is fascinating! I’d love to go on a tour like that. Thanks for sharing all those wonderful details! Truly amazing to hear how things were stored back then. I wonder if they have it all on computer now.

Haha! Another of my favorite movie houses. I loved the flow of that big house and how one room opened so effortlessly into the other, with such beautiful details. Like you, I loved all the windows! And I always thought that front staircase was so interesting being solid on the sides as opposed to having balustrades. You had the feeling that it was a wonderful home to live in AND entertain in, and it had that ‘indoor / outdoor’ quality I love so much about west coast homes. I remember that their back patio area made a big impression on me and I just loved all the cozy touches like the Dutch doors, window seats, mouldings and the way the rooms were designed with half walls to give the impression of distinct separation but with an open feeling.

And yes, I’m one of those little weirdos who has noticed that many of the houses from The Burbs (can’t believe you included that movie, lol,- I don’t know anybody who has seen it – I have watched it over and over solely for the purpose of looking at the houses!) I would even pick 0ut houses and think, I’m sure that was Tom Hanks neighbors house in The Burbs and gone back to check, and was right! There’s one in particular that has such a pretty front door area I’ve seen it in numerous movies and t.v. shows. And Corey Feldman was so cute back then! Remember when Brother Theodore was a regular guest on David Letterman? And I couldn’t believe Princess Leia would appear in a low budget movie like that, lol, but I’m glad she did!

Anyway, back to the Doris Day movie, I have noticed that in many of her movies and I believe her t.v. show (remember her dramatic entrance down the spiral staircase) the main color scheme was yellow with white. Yellow seemed to be her color and it suited her very well.

Thanks for sharing your insights and the stills from this movie. To me, the house was just as much the ‘star’ as Rock or Doris. ;o) ~~~ Pam

I loved the flow, too! Loved that big entry, the charming breakfast area and I totally covet the back yard/patio and the charming Dutch door. It’s funny you mention the stairway…I like how it swooped down but wasn’t too crazy about the closed-in design. It reminded me too much of the “knee wall” (I think that is what it’s called) that you see on some screened-in porches. I wonder why they made it that way for the movie. Maybe it was a new trend at the time. I bet you are right about yellow being her color. They always cast her as the all American girl and she always had such a sunny disposition in the movies, except when she was mad at Rock Hudson (HA!) so yellow totally suited her. She is/was such an elegant lady!
Yes, love the Burbs! I love watching it around Halloween…it has just the right amount of spooky. Tom Hanks was such a cutie back then, too. He has always been one of my fave actors.

Yes, I had mixed feelings on that staircase, as well. It was so unusual, at least, for any I had seen, yet there is something about it that I like. I do love that it turns and overlooks the front entry area so dramatically. But I actually think that it would make a more appropriate and appealing “back” staircase – what with the closed sides.

I was sooo excited when we bought our new house because for the first time I got to have a ‘back staircase,’ the concept of which just seems so ridiculously cozy to me. I love mine, though it’s not too fancy. It does have an interesting small turn and it ends in a cozy and small back hallway that has a single french door that overlooks a small and cozy (what I call) utility porch. That little space is just so cute, I used to tell everyone that was my favorite part of the whole house, lol. (Most people just look at me like I’m nuts, but I think you’d understand.) My husband made one of those wonderful “antique bed turns into a bench” for that spot and I made throw pillows for it (so I can call it a ‘collaborative effort,’ lol.) And I really appreciated that he did it for me because he’s so busy but I kept talking excitedly about having one built by a carpenter, and instead he insisted on making it for me. Awww. He jokingly tells me I hit the lottery when I married him – and I think he is right!

I know exactly what you mean. That was one of the things I loved about my current home…it has a back stairway. It really comes in handy when you’re in the kitchen in you pajamas and the front doorbell rings. Instead of streaking by the front door to run upstairs for a housecoat, I can escape up the back stairway. 🙂 It’s always the unusual spaces, little nooks and crannies that I love best about houses. I just hate how cookie cutter so many neighborhoods/houses have gotten. I guess that’s why I love historic homes so much. When you drive down those streets (and when you go in) the houses are all so different with their own personalities…like the people who live there. I especially love little cozy spots created by dormers. I love dormers that are actually wide and deep enough to hold a chair/table or a build in window seat. Awww, you have a good guy there! What a wonderful thing he did…love that! 🙂

Heehee, six years later and we still love all those cozy nooks and crannies. 🙂 Your 6/4/19 post about Doris Day passing and the tribute to her movies brought me here. So many fond memories and fun details are wrapped up in those movies. It seems every one of them featured beauty in many forms, the homes, the furnishings, the clothes, the people!

Even though we could probably down-size at this stage, there are just so many cozy things about our house, both inside and out, that make me reluctant to move. You probably feel the same way about your house, Susan. You’ve got it just the way you want it now. It would be hard to leave!

Anyway, it was a nice tribute to Doris and I hope she’s skipping though the daisies where she is. 🙂

Thank you so much.
I absolutely love seeing the interiors of the houses used in the Doris Day movies.
As a child in order to see the movie over again, I’d have to wait a year for it to come back to town.
At last, I’m glad to know I’m not the only one!

Pillow Talk is my favorite Hudson-Day flick. However, when I watch Send Me No Flowers, I always find myself oogling over that house and décor! I thought it was the Cleaver house too!
I just love your site!!

Hello,
Enjoyed your pictures from this movie. Remember Marcus Welby MD? This was their set too as well as the Leave it to Beaver show. Sadly that house was pulled off Colonial st for the Burbs movie. If you saw it now you’d cry.

Susan!
I always appreciate your hard work. This was FUN. Loved Doris & Rock. I thought that the house also reminded me of the home in Bewitched – the original with Elizabeth Montgomery. With a few tweeks, the home is so similar. Great job. Thanks for sharing.

Hello,
I fell across your site when looking up decore from different eras… and I googled the Leave it to Beaver House… becuase I loved the neighbour hood. I love time stamped homes… and decor especially ones that remind me of my childhood and from pictures of the past. I love the prestine cut lawns and variety of homes… You just don’t get that love anymore for communities. They are designed with a couple of models and duplicated and move with the developer. I wish we still had the love for architecture and decore to mix and match… Thank you for sharing these photos… truly neighbours interacted with one another and everyone loved their house. I guess today we don’t have as much time and dedication for that. Please keep posting, I will keep coming back 🙂 Michelle

Hello,
I forgot to mention I love Doris Day and I will have to check these movies out for sure… Great review on the house and thanks for sharing tid-bits about the movie, I can’t wait for a cozy Sunday to snug into the couch with a blanket and glass of wine and watch the movies on my TV. I love our big bay window, watching the snow lightly fall and the Christmas lights twinkle and a great oldie, perfect late afternoon delight 🙂 Michelle

I LOVE your blog, in fact I copied your bedroom – with the Rosetree Summertin bedding as I too have very traditional furniture. Same paint color as well. You and I must be cut of the same cloth. Same decorating taste. I also love the Doris Day movies and in particular this house. Thank you for such a fun blog to read and get ideas from!

Have you noticed how different the width of the doors and windows were versus the skinny windows and narrow doorways we have today? Also, love the lower ceilings instead of the cathedral ceilings you see everywhere. I think wider windows and lower ceiling height — are what give these old houses that “feel” we all crave. Also, loved your comments about the molding and inset paneling. Finally someone else who shares my insane love for molding!

I love the house too and I think it might be the same house that Katherine Ross and Jim Hutton look at to buy in “Hellfighters.”

I also loved the “Bewitched” house and would have been very happy to grow up living in a house like it.

I buy dvd’s of the movies with my favorite houses just to look at them. The “What Lies Beneath” house is a favorite although I can’t figure out the floor plan on the end of the house (first floor) where I think the kitchen and maybe hall bath are. Have not been able to find the floor plan online.

Denise, you and I are definitely kindred spirits because I do the exact same thing. I have to own the DVD of any movie that has a house I love in it. I will totally go see a movie just for the house! Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the house, I forget to listen to what’s going on and missed half the lines. lol

I tried to watch “What Lies Beneath” after a reader told me how great the house was but I found it way too disturbing. I can’t handle any violence, scary or sad stuff in movies. I just can’t do it. So I didn’t get very far in that movie. Isn’t that the one where someone drowns right near the beginning of the movie? I’m still scarred from that scene! 🙁

Unfortunately, So many of the movies that we love are filmed on sets so there really isn’t any logical floorplan. I wonder if that was the case for the movie, What Lies Beneath. A good example of that is Practical Magic. That was all filmed on a set. They built a “fake” house (that had no interior) for the exterior shots in the movie, but the movie was shot on a set. So that’s another movie for which it would be impossible to figure out a floor plan.

Something’s Gotta Give was filmed on a set, as was The Holiday. They built a fake house for The Holiday, also…just had an exterior. For Something’s Gotta Give, they shot the exterior shots at a real house, but the interior was all filmed on sets.

You reminded me…where the house doesn’t actually exist: “The Ghost Writer” – I think that’s the title…with Pierce Brosnan…love love that house

And what you said about “What Lies Beneath” – me too – I fast forward through the end esp. when Harrison is trying to kill Michelle (Claire) and my favorite scenes are when she’s alone at the house during the day and I turn up the volume because I love the outside noises – the wind and the critters.

It’s soothing. If you didn’t already mention it check out the back story about the house. They built an actual house in Vermont and had to demolish later (sob) and also built on set.

Wow, I need to check out some of the movies and TV houses! Thanks for that list…definitely piqued my interest!
Yeah, they tore down the house in Practical Magic and in The Holiday after the movie was finished. 🙁
The house they built in Vermont–I bet it didn’t really have an interior. Normally for movies, they build the exterior and you would swear it was real, but it’s just a shell. Usually, the interior shots are all filmed on sets.

I will definitely check out some of the movies you mentioned…thanks again for suggesting those!

Click any picture link and it will take you to the tour. The Big Wedding is linked there. They are all in alphabetical order by the name of the movie.

Oh, and there are some other similar fun type posts linked on this page: https://betweennapsontheporch.net/category/movie-house/more-movie-house-fun/
I got to tour the house that was used (again only for the exterior) in the movie, A Christmas Story. You’ll find posts about that visit at that link above. It was fun going inside to see how it’s was changed to look like it did in the movie. 🙂

James Garner: I think I saw JG comments by other people. I was on a plane from Austin to Dallas years ago and I was stuck in the aisle waiting for the crowd to move and I glanced over at a man who was seated and just looking at him not really thinking and then it started to sink in.

“That guy looks familiar.”

“OH…MY…”

I swear he was looking at me too – no doubt love at first sight for him hah.

I think when he saw the “oh my gosh” face he turned away like “Uh oh crazy fan.”

He was so beautiful back in the sixties and even seventies in my opinion.

I think I read that some of his leading ladies said he was a great kisser.

I am going to check out your recommendations. I may have already seen some of them. I have tried to look up other sets from various shows.

The Vermont house (WLB) may have not been a shell. Will have to look at dvd extras and director commentary again. The neighbor house was also built there and it was on park property I think.

What have we left out? Well I’ll tell you. Bonanza. Not for the house necessarily looking great maybe.

I think it was originally filmed on a set and fans started looking for an actual house at Tahoe and there may have not been one there. Correct me if I am wrong.

So a private individual may have built one.

Years ago we went to Tahoe and went there (along with going to some other places…I don’t want to look like a Bonanza freak…) and there were other attractions including (I think) a chapel where people could get married.

OK that’s just weird. Kidding. This was at Incline Village if my memory is accurate.

I think there were other attractions and souvenirs – tin mugs, the Bonanza map. No I did not buy one and go home and set it on fire like the opening of the show. I think this place is closed now. We went through the house and one of the other visitors was singing the theme song as we went through.

How fun is that! That’s cool that they had all that for fans of the show. I grew up watching that show–fond memories. There were so many great shows on back then!
The same thing happens here in Georgia…people coming looking for Tara from Gone With The Wind, and it doesn’t exist, although I think the front was modeled after a real home somewhere…not sure where. They should build a Tara for folks to visit…would be better than just being told it doesn’t exist.

Hi Susan, Just looking through some past posts — the Jaguar sports car parked in front of the house is, imho, the most beautiful car ever built. Ever! Mid 60’s model; I think it was called an XKE. Jaguars in general used to be so lovely and elegant, up until the late 80’s early 90’s, when body styles changed dramatically in most cars. I wanted one so badly, but without the bank account of British Royals, “pre-owned” was the only option for me. I came close to buying a used ’87 sedan in the mid 90’s, but with their not-so-good track record on reliability, good sense won out in the end. Oh, well — dream on!

My favorite Doris Day movie is Send Me No Flowers,not only the house but the back patio was beautiful. I was so sad to hear she passed,I loved all her movies but have watched this movie every year since I first saw it on TCM in the early eighties